Combined cigarette case and lighter



March 3, 1931. s. SPRAGUE COMBINED CIGARETTE CASE AND LIGHTER Filed March 22, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Law M m H March 3, 1931. 5, SPRAGUE 1,794,559

COMBINED CIGARETTE CASE AND LIGHTER Filed March 22, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J6 Z4 3.; I:

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ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1931 SIDNEY SPRAGUE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMBINED CIGARETTE CASE ANDLIGHTEB Application filed March 22, 1928. Serial No. 263,819.

This invention relates to improvements in a cigarette case and lighter, presenting :a novelty as a two in one article, and contributing in a considerable degree to the facilities and incidental comfort so highly valued by smokers.

As this invention notwithstanding the new and genuine features embodied therein is very simple of construction, the manufacturing cost of same should be comparatively low.

The object of the device is briefly to provide a cigarette case and a lighter adapted to cooperate in such a manner, that through an insignificant operation a cigarette will be eject- .16 ed and simultaneously lighted.

It is thought desirable here to point out,

that the invention embodied and described in I this application constitutes further improvements of a somewhat similar device for which the United States patent application has been indicate corresponding parts in all views, and

in which Figure 1 illustrates my cigarette case and lighter as an ensemble in closed position; Fig. 2 shows my device in an ordinary open position in course of ejecting a cigarette; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one secton of my device; Fig. 4.- represents a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig.1; Fig. 5 is a perspective View of my device with the lid of the case swung open Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation of my device, especially illustrating the lighting mechanism while Figs. 7 and 8 represent detail views for further illustrative purposes.

Referrin more particularly to'the drawings, 10 indicates the embodiment of my de vice, comprising a front member 11 formed with a flat bottom 12 and somewhat curved sides 13 and 13 adapted to be snapped onto and slidably engage a counter, or rear member 14 with its hingedly attached box-compartment 15,- respectively. The said front member 11 has further arranged a partition 16 as an additional support for the said boxcompartment 15; an opening 17 of a somewhat rectangular shape formed at one side of the latter is adapted to register with anopenin 18 of a substantially corresponding shape ormed in the said partition 16 for the purpose of conveying light-to.a cigarette, when the said device-ensemble is subjected to its two stroke manipulation.

The front member 11 is still further provided with a top flange 19 extending between one side and the partition 16; the said flange has in close proziimity to the latter arranged a circular reduced portion 20 to rmit the ejection of a cigarette. The said ront member 11 is arran ed with an inner semi-wall 21, which by a hending or stamping process may be made to form an integral part with the said front member, the fiat bottom 12 and the side portion 13, and which is rigidly connected to the partition 16, being near the latter provided with a cut-out portion 22 in or-' der to permit the projecting arm 23 of the counter part 14 to engage and eject a cigarette 24, as the latter by means of a pair of spring rfnembers is placed in suitable position there- The said spring mechanism, comprises substantially two flat, resilient steel members 25 and 26 of a somewhat curved shape, secured to each other at their upper ends as at 27. The said spring members are further secured at their respective lower ends to two similarly flat members 28 and 29, of which theformer is adapted to rest against the wall 13, and the latter against the cigarettes 30 po sitioned vertically in the casing. The construction, just described, is to the effect, that the said sprin members will tend to press the cigarette designated by the reference numeral 24 against the partition 16 of the said case, from where it will be carried upward by the projecting arm 23, as stated before.

The said front member 11 is at its bottom side arranged with an annular opening 31 adapted to fit a tube member of the box-section 15. The member 11 is further provided with an opening 32 having hingedly connected thereto a door 33; the said opening 32 forming an air-trap for cooperation with a wick member 41 for the purpose of ignition.

The counter part, or back portion, of the casing comprises a rear member 14 having a somewhat curved side portion. 34 adapted to snap onto and cover the side 13 of the member 11, when in closed position. The member 14 is further provided with a broad top-flan e 35 constructed with a reduced portion 36 a apted to form with the opening 20 in the member 11, the outlet for the cigarette to be ejected.

The free end of the member 14 has hingedly connected to it a box-compartment 15, as at 37 arranged to perform a free swin 'ng movement in order to disengage the said oxcompartment with the member 14 from the front member 11.

The said box-compartment 15 comprises in detail a receptacle 38 adapted to contain benzine or alcohol, the said receptacle bein filled throu h an opening at the end, close by a tight tting screw-member 39. From the 0pposite end of the said receptacle extends through atube 40 a saturated wick 41, the latter is, when the device is not operated but in locked position, enclosed by a cap 42, preferably supported or engaged b an arm 43, which in turn may be connecte to the inner side of the door 33. The said compartment 15 is provided with an open space 44 and has at one side near its bottom a pivot 45 supported by a bracket 64 and adapted to engage and retain a hammer 46, the latter being actuated by a spring 47 axially wound upon the said ivot; the hammer 46 consists of a forked mem er 52, the said forked member being connected by a ridge 48, in which is rovided a somewhat elliptical opening 49 a apted to lift and operate a vertical spring 50 by engaging an annular enlargement 51 upon the latter. A tubular member 53 is secured to the bottom of the open section 44 of the boxcompartment 15, as at 54, while it has at its other end attached at one side an elongated supporting rod 55 rigidly connected to the bottom of the said receptacle 38 as at 56. The tubular member 53 has inside at its bottom arranged a coiled spring 57 adapted to bring an igniter stick 58 into contact with a friction wheel 59, the latter having its periphery covered with a suitable materiaL- The said friction wheel is pivotally mounted upon the supporting rod 55 by means of a pin 60, and is actuated or forced into contact with the igniter stick 58 by means of a substantially semi-cylindrical, partly forked ratchetmember 61, the latter being in turn actuated by the spring 50 during appropriate manipulation of the device. In order to secure the saidratchet member in proper position relative to the friction wheel at all times a flat leaf spring 62 is secured above the said ratchet-member, the said spring having one end rigidly attached to the side of the boxcompartment as shown at 63, while its other free end is adapted to exert a constant pressure upon the said ratchet-member. For the sake of operating the said device a substantially rectangular abutment or bracket 64 supporting the pivot 45 has been formed in such a manner that it rises a trifle above the edge surface 65, thereby accomplishing through cooperation with t e cam 66 formed upon the door 33 to push the latter open when the front member 11 is moved downward, or

simultaneously the counterpart 14 upward,

' during the first manipular stroke.

In performing the second stroke or brin ing the two aforesaid members 11 and 14 together again in a closed position, a slight projlection 67 formed upon the ridge 48 of the ammer catches a steep somewhat raised elevation 68 arranged upon the front member 11; the said elevation being formed with a sloping surface to the effect that the aforesaid projection 67 upon the hammer only in the closing movement catches the projection 68 and thereby sets the igniting mechanism in motion by the way of the spring 50, which is strongly acted upon through the forced engagement of the hammer with the annular enlargement 51 formed upon the said spring, which in turn engages the ratchet-member 61 as at 69 the latter meshing with the aforesaid friction wheel 59 actuating its movement, the hammer in this instance assuming a position as indicated in Fig. 7

It is obvious that the cap-member 42, attached to the door, and shielding the wick when the device is in an inoperative state, performs its opening and closing function simultaneously with the movement of the former.

It is further evident from the description of the device and the relative movement of its members, that a cigarette may be ejected and lighted. during one complete movement or cycle. It will also be clear from the above, that this device being of simple, but genuine construction, may be easily taken apart and reassembled by anyone.

As this constitutes a decided advantage, it deserves to be especially pointed out, that the said case ma be refilled with cigarettes without being ta en apart.

It is obvious that changes may be made in and rear member partially provided with flanges adapted to register and snap onto each wick of the lighter, a trap-door having arranged a cam subject to engagement by an abutment disposed upon a bracket forming part of the ignitor box-compartment, for the purpose of regulating the movements of the said door relative to said air-trap, when the front and rear member of the case are separated during a movement in a vertical direction.

2. A cigarette case and lighter of the class described, comprising a rear member and a front member the latter being bent upon itself to form a substantially rectangular shaped open box and an end-compartment, the former adapted toreceive a number of cigarettes; a plurality of s rings rigidly connected and positioned in t e sald box in such a manner as to force the cigarettes in succession into a position suitable for ejectment; a box-compartment embracing the ignition s stem with the cigarette lighter proper and b ing of a form adapted to be mounted in and cooperate with the aforesaid end-compartment of the front member, the said end-compartment being of a rectangular shape with but three sides, the said box-compartment being hingedly connected to the rear member, simultaneously serving the purpose of a connecting agent between the front and rear member, and as a slidable support durin the manipulation of the two members wit respect to one another. 7

3. A cigarette caseand lighter of the class described, comprisin front and rear members partly flanged, t e rear member having a box-compartment embracing an ignition system hingedly attached thereto, the front member being provided witha door having a cam arranged thereupon, an air-trap'for ignition purposes closed and controlled by the said door, and an opening in a vertical partition for cooperation therewith, the latter opening being adapted to register with a similar opening at the side of the box-compartment as a means of conveying air to a wick, forming part of the lighter, at a predetermined state of operation, the said function be ing brought about when during a move in vertical direction the abutment or bracket at the lower end of the box-compartment engages the cam of the door causing the latter to open; a cap adapted to securely enclose the said wick in order to prevent the escape of moisture, when the said device is not in operation, the said cap being carried by an arm rigidly attached to the said door, and adjusted to operate in conjunction with the movements of the latter.

4. A cigarette case and lighter of the class described, comprising two major sections, a front and a rear, mitting of a vertical sliding movement for the purpose of ejecting and lighting a cigarette, and permitting also through a hinged connection of a sidewise partly separating operation for the purpose of refilling the said case with cigarettes, substantially as shown and described.

5. A cigarette case and lighter of the class described, comprising two major parts detachably interengaged and adapted to cooperate vertically in a sliding manner by means of a box-compartment constituting a section of the rear major art, the said boxcompartment having a su stantia-lly rectangular shape with means for ignition disposed at its front and part of the casing hingedly attached to'its rear surfac Signed at New York city, in the'county of New York and State of 17th day of March, A. D. 1928. Y SIDNEY SPRAGUE.

detachably connected, per- New York, this 

